How to Clean a Vintage Safety Razor 

Instructions not clear enough ended up making myself a 3 course meal.

Hello! I've been shaving with a DE since 15 thanks to RU-vidrs like you, I am now 17 and in the army and I am thankful I learned to shave with DE really clean shave when doing drill on the weekends ✌️. Keep up the content :)

I soak them in 50-70% rubbing alcohol. It kills most germs in 30 seconds, but I let it soak for about 10 minutes anyway. Then I lightly scrub with antibacterial hand soap and a toothbrush.

In addition to everything SL did (especially if you have TTO razor) I drizzle mineral oil into the moving mechanisms for lubrication (ie. The hinges on the butterfly doors, down the rod that sticks out the top where the blade goes, the adjuster collar, and into the bottom of handle around that rivet cap thing). It helps keep it lubricated and functioning well :)

Wouldn’t want to clean my vintage Gillette’s that way and I cleaned a lot of razors, I have 70 vintage Gillette’s. Sometimes the boiling water can dull or stain the vintage nickel or gold plating. I just buy 99% alcohol and soak about 2 to 3 minute then put into my Barbicide jar for about 5 minutes rinse and then a few drops of lubricant in the normal places and you’re golden. Do do on occasion use an old toothbrush and some antibacterial soap to scrub off the soap scum them I do the other steps. Just my way and I’m sure other collectors do different than I do. Whatever works. But I always live your videos Sinatra, have a great weekend.💈💈💈💈. I ordered one of those white handled slim twist made in England razors the other day off EBay when you posted your video of yours. Should be here Monday. And I love the Beatles too.

Just took the plunge with purchasing a ‘62 Gillette Slim Adjustable DE razor, which could do with some TLC to remove the gunk and grunge accumulated from previous luvvin’s. The tips in this video & comments below are testament to how helpful the shaving community is as a whole. Many thanks to yourself, Brian, and to all. 👍🏼

What's up sinatra !!! Definitely an excellent way of sterilization, of course exclusively for vintage's safety razors, now with the appearance with respect to the metal I think not to worry since the state of wear and rust marks reflects a long useful life, I for example have a Vintage Gillette and only sterilize it but never restore it I prefer its status as a war veteran. Cheers ⚔️💯👍🏻

Cleaning grandpa grungy in a pot in the kitchen. More elder abuse😱🤯 👍💈

Shaving god! Seeing this notification made my day!

Great topic. I use a sonic cleaner with a small amount bleach to disinfect.its the same sonic cleaner used by jewelers etc. I use it to clean gun parts as well. Spotless 💈

Try using a whitening toothpaste if you have it. The crystals in there can help remove extra build up. Tip I picked up from cleaning water-cooling parts from a PC.

I was sitting in a restaurant in Edinburgh when this came through. I thought I was seeing things! SinatraLennon cleans razor shock!😂

Perfect timing as my 1962 Slim Adjustable just came in 😁

Scrubbing bubbles work amazing

IMO tossing it into already boiling water is probably not a good idea. I'd place it into the water and bring it up to a boil and as soon as it does, you could just turn it off and let it cool down. This way temperature change is not immediate which *may* cause warpage of some thin metals.

I do mine similarly. However you don't need a rolling boil Just near boiling is all you need. Also I add some vinegar to the water, it is a natural disinfectant, and has other properties when it comes to cleaning things. Hot vinegar water is great for cleaning old brass razors too. The toothpaste isn't a bad idea, but use the old fashioned white kind. It is basically a very mild buffing compound. Use it on the handle as well. I use an actual metal polish, but the toothpaste can work it does take more elbow grease. By the way toothpaste and a buffer can remove those tiny scratches from windshields that only show up when the sun is at a certain angle. By the way, in case you're wondering, you only have to heat the razor to above 140 degrees for about ten minutes or less.

I just put mine in the silverware section of the dishwasher with the barn doors open when I run a load of dishes. I feel the water will will kill the germs on your plates it will kill what’s on the razor. I used those Cascade platinum pods and my razors come out looking brand new. Even the deep seeded grunge in the grooves of the handle.

Wow that is so easy,I do have barbasol and I use it on my 1974 vintage Gillette, I just ordered a 1950 something I should get it in mail today. I'll try this.Thanks man.

I clean them almost the same way, but I add two more actions. After the soapcleaning I dry it and then I take a silver polishing cloth and rub it untill it shines. (Do not use the liquid silver polish, the acid will destroy the chrome!) And finaly I give it a drop of oil in the handle.

Great tips! You should have closed it out by singing ‘l did it my way!’ 🎤

Thank you for this video. I just acquired an 1930s Gem Flattop "G-Bar" and will be "dolling" this up asap! Also listening to some Sinatra as we speak.

I generally do the boil myself since it also loosens up any crud within the barrel of the TTO and adjustment mechanism as well. Sometimes I'll use tongs and a glove to pull it out, move the mechanism then put it back in again. For regular cleaning I just use scrubbing bubbles, less than 5 minutes seems to do the trick and doesn't destroy the finish HOWEVER I don't do any chemicals with any gold/rhodium razors though unless they've been replated and I know there's lots of material on there.

“I’m gonna pretend like this is a brand new vintage razor I just got” Step 1) ask for a refund 😂

I recently acquired a Fatboy bottom 9 F4 along with a pack of blades. I need to clean it so I can sell it. I want to clean it without harming the finish. I believe it has the brass finish. I watched a video on how to take them completely apart but I think I'll leave that up to the buyer. I used some chemicals on a few pieces of jewelry that ate some of the finish off. I usually clean jewelry with toothpaste. I hoping to get some much needed money for the razor though it's tempting to keep it because my daddy used one all of my childhood.

Lol, I bought that exact model at an antique mall. I'm here because I want to clean it before I use it the first time.

So many different methods of cleaning reading the comments. I just use dawn dish dish soap with a toothbrush, which works very well for cleaning and disinfecting. I will also put razors in the dishwasher, which works very well and won't ruin their finish.

I like your copper sink.

Remember people you do not want to over cook your razor, you just boil until Al Dente.

I keep mine relatively clean anyway I just use a soft to medium toothbrush with warm soapy water it works for me 👍

I got mine from my Step Grandpa's who was a CB at Pearl Harbor

I like to use White Vinegar on old razors just let it set in it for 24 hours it gets off most all oxidation , scrub and sanitize dry then oil.

Well thank you sinitra! Many steps i use to miss.. Nice informative lesson today

Scrubbing Bubbles scrub, rinse, followed by a Barbicide soak... That stuff kills everything!

Another excellent video Phil, from the UK 👍

Very thoughtful video sir! Thanks man. Have a great weekend!

"Old grampa grungy is shimmering, glimmering, in the sun... Sorry, it's just how my brain works, I'm a musician too! And a huge Beatles fan! Keep up the great vids, take care man!

I used to bring water to a boil and let the razor sit in the hot water but as it cools down. Now I just go to town with toothbrush and normal dish detergent (not dish machine stuff) and then 5-10mins in warm water in my ultra sonicator (bought cheap on eBay). Then more toothbrush and dish detergent. Toothpaste is a very mild abrasive so it works well for polishing, but I use a very mild polish product instead - if I need it.

For me, a Gillette 365 blade in my Fatboy may be the perfect the perfect shave. Super smooth with no razor burn. For some reason that razor doesn't like the slickery 'Artisan Soaps' or even the Wool Fat soap.

I use to do, half an hour submerged in alcohol 90% after I change to alcohol 70% another half hour. Then I clean with a toothbrush with whitening toothpaste about 3-4 minutes (sometimes a little more), depending the condition of the razor and rinse with hot water and it's done. Cheers

Can't agree with boiling razors. That compromises the metal and I would never use that method.

Nice guide! Thank you SL!

Thanks for the tip! You always give good advice.

Good timing for the video. Mine is due for a clean

Great video. Thanks for posting.

As a cook... When dropping something into a hot liquid - always drop it in, away from you. 😁

Thanks for sharing this video clip 👌😎 Sir. Sinatra Lennon

Whewwww. Scared me for a second. Loll. I thought you were gonna make Grandpa Grundy not Grungy no more. Haha. I was like NOOOOO! 😮😮😮😄😂👍🏼

That is a beautiful kitchen sink! Also love your voice!

Great birthday gift, today's video! I got to learn how to clean a safety razor SinatraLennon style, as well as a mini house tour if you can call it that! That shirt gives off Tim Roth from Reservoir Dogs vibes!😁😁

great video help ful to me my friend thanks .

Thank you for the guide.

I soak new vintage razors in barbecide for 10 mins. Then scrub with antibacterial dish soap. Then I put it in my ultrasonic cleaner with a drop of dish soap to clean the nooks and crannies, especially for TTO razors.

5:55 that’s very awesome to brush the safety razor to refurbish after boiling the hot 🥵 water 💦 with the pot from the stove.

That sink is sick!! Looks like straight copper

Thank you for the how to!

what could go wrong if I just simply put the razor in a cup and pour boiling water into it? And wait 5 mins? Water won't be slightly less than boiled but I wonder if that would work?

Stupid Question, I just bought a 1976 Gillette Super Adjustable Razor, I know that the plate is plastic, is the handle also plastic as well?

I just seen this vid on cleaning DE razors does boiling take off the painted numbers on a Fat Boy I purchaesd two from ebay in nealy mint condition and I like to use them.

I just learned about using toothpaste. Most of the time I'll soak them in isopropyl alcohol. The use a toothbrush and scrub them wish dish detergent and hot water.

I’m waiting for my made to order rhodium plated Fatboy from Razor Emporium! Should last forever.

Hi Andrew from Kent in England. Question how do you free a seized shut head Gillette Rocket?...😮 thank-you mate#

Awesome video

I do close to the same.. I use a old electric toothbrush head put back on my electric toothbrush use Toothpaste or dawn soap.. Then dry n polish cloth

Almost same way i do it.but i do not boil it. Clean it the same, put it in the dishwasher, rubbing alcohol, and if needed light polish

Thanks for the videos, I have 3 antique stores nearby and hope to score a razor. Yes rubbing alcohol will work well. During boiling have you tried a tablespoon of vinegar? It may remove some of the old scales.

Great video! Next time you could really get formal and don a cutaway😄

Would you do the same for modern de razors?

Thank you so much.

The question is how to dismantle this type of a razor to clean the inside screw in order to the screw works smoothly?????

....granpa now looks 20 yrs younger....

Informative video, thanks. I soak my razor heads in rubbing/isopropyl alcohol between shaves. Somewhat similar to the Barbacide treatment you mention. Extends the life of the blades as well. #HookEm

no mineral oil dropper at the end of the process, to (re) lubricate the moving parts?

Hello, big fan of you although silent here, could you please help me with a vintage safety razor that I bought? I would like some tips on how much is worth and how should i clean it. Thanks! Please tell me how to get in contact with you if you want

Quick question: I just picked up an exact razor to this! Can you tell me how the adjustments work? Is 1 the most aggressive, or is it the most mild? Thanks! --Michael

If it gets rubbed in soap each use, you can probably just give your daily driver razor a quick cosmetic cleaning with toothpaste once a year or so

You should send Grandpa Grungy to Razor Emporium for a revamp!

Thank you sir, for the great videos! Quick question. Does the same process apply for bronze and brass razors? I recently acquired a beautiful Gem 1912 that is all brass so I’m wondering if the same goes with brass. Thanks in advance for your help!

I have a razor like this (I don’t believe it’s a vintage one) and ive noticed it’s starting to get rust a little under the flaps. Any tips on how to clean it? Or is toothpaste suitable? ive mostly been wiping what I can away with a qtip but I haven’t been using it since I noticed the rust.

Can ya get your hands on some rocky mountain barber company products and do a review?

Is this safe for the plating?

There is a company that does total restoration for razors but very expensive

Hi SinatraLennon. Would you recommend vinegar?

think you have to boil for 20mins. id also use barbicide or 99% alcohol

Y si son doradas no se les cae el color?

Nice video and class ring 😆is that a UT ring

That looks a bit too much for me but really usefull thx lennon

Try an ultrasonic cleaner 😊

What's the best way to clean the plastic handles, for instance on the Gillette Black beauty razor?. Cheers🥃

Now i know how to clean my fatboy Sinatra style!!! I normally put mine in the dishwasher then put a little mineral oil in it 🪒👍

👍

hello my friend..if i use a cheap safety razor wont i have a good result? thank you

i always thought the razor handle was green🤣🤣🤣

Where did you buy Grandpa Grungy at?

I assume Gramps is stainless steel. Can you boil the chrome razors too?

Can this method be used on a Gillette slim?

Why did barbasol go from 10z cans to 7oz ?

Breaking News The phone mount I ordered has arrived shaving videos to commence soon

If you really want to clean heavy soap scum build up off a nickel or chrome plated razor use a brass wire brush and liquid dish soap. Brass is softer than nickel and chrome and should not scratch it. However it may revel plating loss from having heavy soap scum build up for over 50 years. Do Not do this to a Black Beauty, Black Handle Super Speed or any Gold Plated Razor.

DONT do this with Black Beauties that have plastic parts or with gold plated razors.

Just DONT do that to gold plated razors....finish will be gone!!